I didn’t see much of Chiang Dao before my bag and I were whisked into a waiting songthaew bound for a 10-minute ride up a winding hill to Malee’s Nature Lovers Bungalows. There was nobody in sight, so I stooped to pet a tail-wagging dog and waited, still recovering from the efficiency that had …

I’m just going to come clean and say the thing that elicits gasps and open-mouthed stares. Here it is: I don’t like the beach. Before you even ask, no, I do not hate children or puppies. I just hate sand and sunscreen, and especially the combination of sand and sunscreen. Also, I look stupid …

So, you’re walking into your first yoga class. You’ve summoned the courage to get this far despite your internal misgivings surrounding seriously hippy, bendy people who might even burn incense. Congratulations. At the very least, you’re going to get a kick-ass workout that opens your chest, hips and maybe even your mind. You might …